Key Figures
Forcibly Displaced Population data are sent to UNHCR Country Offices by member states, usually through national institutions responsible for data production in the area of refugee and asylum (National Statistical Offices, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Justice, and Administrative Tribunals). D. When a country does not report refugee figures to UNHCR, estimations based on positive decisions on asylum applications from previous years are used.
Forcible Displacement
As per 2020 statistical reporting in the Americas, the total population of concern is 18,357,000, this includes:
- Total Refugees, Asylum-seekers & Venezuelan Displaced Abroad: 6,728,000
- Total Internally Displaced Persons 8,571,000
- Total Statelessness 4,000
- Total Other of Concerns 3,052,000
Solutions
- Total Returned Refugees 0
- Total Returned IDP 0
- Total Resettlement 19,000
- Total Naturalisation 5,000
Profiles
Total children below 18
Hosted in urban/peri-urban areas
Regional Overview
The total number of persons of concern by end of 2020 stood at 18,357,000, an increase of more than 20 per cent from 2019 (14,961,993).
The Americas hosts 20 per cent of the total persons of concern to UNHCR in the world. In more details, the 18 per cent of the world’s Internally Displaced Persons population, more than 8 million in Colombia. More than 50 per cent of Asylum-seekers (pending cases) of the world are in Americas. 3 per cent of the refugees. 38 per cent of the world People in refugee-like situations and the 37 per cent Others of concern to UNHCR worldwide. Venezuelans displaced abroad are only reported in Americas.
There were more than 6.7 million (6,728,000) refugees, asylum-seekers and Venezuelan displaced abroad (a new category), more than 8 million internally displaced persons (8,571,000) in the region. Persons under UNHCR’s statelessness mandate in the region by end of 2020 stood at 4,000.
In the UNHCR data finder more details and data: https://www.unhcr.org/refugee-statistics/download/?url=E1ZxP4
The definition of ‘Venezuelans Displaced Abroad’ (VDA) in the context of the Population Statistical Reference (PSR is UNHCR’s platform for collection of data on UNHCR’s population of concern globally): Persons of Venezuelan origin who are likely to be in need of international protection under the criteria contained in the Cartagena Declaration, but who have not applied for asylum in the country in which they are present. Regardless of status, Venezuelans displaced abroad require protection against forced returns, and access to basic services. UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration work together with this population by leading the Regional Inter-Agency Coordination Platform, which is aimed at strengthening the protection dimensions and consistent responses across the region in line with human rights standards.
The following chart visualizes population movements between source and destination countries in the region. Countries that account for less than ????1% of the population of concern were lumped together as “Other”.
Figure 1 | Population origin-destination in the region
Figure 2 | Evolution over time of the different Population of Concern
In the last five years, Asylum-seekers increased substantially. Recently a new category were introduced Venezuelan Displaced Abroad. Refugees are stationary over the time.
<<<<<<< HEAD The evolution in the last 20 years shows a significant increased in Internally Displaced Persons, especially in Colombia (8,252,788 over 8,571,000). In the last five years, Asylum-seekers increased substantially. Recently a new category were introduced Venezuelan Displaced Abroad. Refugees are stationary over the time. It is registered an important increase over the last two years of Other of Concerns (in 2020__3,052,000__).
======= The Americas hosts Americas per cent of the total persons of concern to UNHCR. Americas per cent of the world’s refugee population and Americas per cent of the world’s stateless population live in the region. >>>>>>> 47e12ce210b9f8ee7e7c33d9c7b42c8bdb759b70
Regional Analysis
What displacement?
<<<<<<< HEAD
??????????????????????????????????????????? Compared to the previous year, the population groups with increases were the returned IDPs with 22 per cent and the number of internally displaced persons increased by 12 per cent. The number of refugees and asylum-seekers both reduced slightly by 4 per cent respectively. The largest decrease was within the refugee returnee category with 75 per cent.
======= >>>>>>> 47e12ce210b9f8ee7e7c33d9c7b42c8bdb759b70 ###### Figure 3 | Largest Countries of Asylum
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<<<<<<< HEAD Considering together Refugees, Asylum Seekers and Venezuelan Displaced Abroad, Colombia is the first country with more population, especially for the presence of Venezuelan Displaced Abroad (1,729,537). United States of America has the second largest host has a big component of Refugees (340,844) and Asylum Seekers (997,998). The third country, Peru has a great component of Venezuelan Displaced Abroad (515,039).
###### Figure 4 | Countries with the Most within border Concern to UNHCR
Figure 4 | Other Displacement
The evolution in the last 20 years shows a significant increased in Internally Displaced Persons, especially in Colombia (8,252,788 over 8,571,000).
47e12ce210b9f8ee7e7c33d9c7b42c8bdb759b70
<<<<<<< HEAD ????Colombia OOC is the sum of OOC and Host Community. Maybe this graphs is missleading ???????
Other persons of concern (OOC): Refers to individuals who do not necessarily fall directly into any of the groups above but to whom UNHCR has been given a mandate to provide protection and/or assistance (e.g. based on regional documents, peace agreements, General Assembly resolutions). Persons with whom UNHCR is engaged purely on a good offices basis, such as, for instance, rejected asylum-seekers, should not be included.
47e12ce210b9f8ee7e7c33d9c7b42c8bdb759b70
SDG Indicator 10.7.4 Proportion of the population who are refugees, by country of origin -> Target 10.7 Facilitate orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration and mobility of people, including through the implementation of planned and well-managed migration policies -> Goal 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries
Forced displacement as a result of conflict, violence, and other causes undermine sustainable development, and can increase the risk of regional instability, especially when refugees are hosted in neighbouring countries, resulting in possible tensions with local populations. The United Nations General Assembly Resolution (A/Res/70/1) that adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at paragraph 23 recognizes the relevance of the Agenda to meet the needs of refugees, internally displaced persons and migrants on the basis that they are among the most vulnerable. It also explicitly states that Member States resolve to take further effective measures and actions, to “strengthen support and meet the special needs of people living in areas affected by complex humanitarian emergencies”.
In addition, target 10.7 recognizes for the first time the contribution of migration to sustainable development by aiming to “facilitate orderly, safe, and responsible migration and mobility of people, including through implementation of planned and well-managed migration policies”. This indicator tracks the number of people displaced across national borders as a result of persecution, conflict, violence, human rights violations, or events seriously disturbing public order. It measures the total count of refugee population by country or territory of origin as a proportion of the total population.
Figure 5 | Proportion of the population who are refugees, by country of origin
What profiles?
Figure 6 | Where Demographic Composition is available?
Figure 7 | Demographic Composition
Often demographic data are not available in Americas. Available demographic data for persons of concern in the region for 2020 show a balance beetwen sex. Of the total population, more than 30 per cent are children below the age of 18 and around the 5 per cent are elderly 60 years and above. More than 35 per cent are between 18-59 years.
Impact of Covid-19, a dramatic drop of solutions
Since the first case of COVID-19 was recorded in December 2019, more than 170 million people worldwide have contracted the virus.
Durable solutions include voluntary repatriation, resettlement to a third country, local integration, naturalization and return to place of origin prior to displacement (for IDPs). However, a growing number of displaced populations have limited opportunities for a durable solution. The COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated these challenges.
Costa Rica. UNHCR expands cash assistance programme during COVID-19 crisis
The partial or full closure of borders, along with more general restrictions on movement aimed at limiting the pandemic’s spread, has dramatically impacted opportunities for displaced people to return to their home countries or resettle to other countries.
Figure 8 | Trends for Solution
Figure 9 **| Refugee Status Determination trends
Refugee Status Determination
Country Highlights
Mexico
Figure 10 | Evolution over time of the different Population of Concern
Brazil
Colombia
Ecuador
Peru
Analysis of Situation
Venezuela Situation
As the second-largest displacement crisis in the world, refugees and migrants from Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) now total 5.7 million globally, of which more than 80 percent are hosted by countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. To date, more than 171,000 have been recognized as refugees and over 850,000 asylum claims have also been lodged worldwide. Across the region, just under 2.7 million have been granted some form of residency or regular stay permit.
Inside Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), UNHCR protects and assists refugees and Venezuelan nationals. The latter is done in the framework of the Humanitarian Response Plan which targets 4.5 million persons in need. Primarily through the protection cluster and the cluster responsible for shelter, energy and non-food items, UNHCR’s coordination and operational efforts support people on-the-move, at risk of displacement, host communities, as well as limited numbers of spontaneous returns, especially in border areas and along key population movement routes.
El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala & Mexico
Conclusion: the Importance of EGRIS Recommandations
The Expert Group on Refugee and IDP Statistics, in which UNHCR belongs to the steering committee, has released the International Recommendations on Refugee Statistics (IRRS), which were adopted by the United Nations Statistical Commission during its 2018 session and is a strong Last updated: February 2021 reference for refugee statistics reporting methodologies. UNHCR supports NSOs to build capacity to report on forced displacement in countries that currently lack disaggregated data on refugees.
• Expert Group on Refugee and IDP Statistics (EGRIS): https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/expert-group-on-refugee-statistics
• International Recommendations on Refugee Statistics (IRRS): https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-manuals-and-guidelines/-/KS-GQ-18-004
Glossary
UNHCR Population Statistics Databasehttp://popstats.unhcr.org contains data about UNHCR’s populations of concern from the year 1951 up to 2014 as well as their general composition by location of residence or origin, their status, their evolution over time.
Refugees recognized by the Government and/or UNHCR include:
- persons recognized as refugees by Governments having ratified the 1951 United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, and/or its 1967 Protocol;
- persons recognized as refugees under the 1969 Organization of African Unity (OAU) Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa;
- persons recognized as refugees under the 1969 Organization of African Unity (OAU) Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa;
- those recognized in accordance with the principles enshrined in the Cartagena Declaration;
- those recognized in accordance with the principles enshrined in the Cartagena Declaration;
- persons recognized by UNHCR as refugees in accordance with its Statute (otherwise referred to as “mandate” refugees);
- persons recognized by UNHCR as refugees in accordance with its Statute (otherwise referred to as “mandate” refugees);
- those who have been granted a complementary form of protection (i.e. non-Convention);
- those who have been granted a complementary form of protection (i.e. non-Convention);
- persons who have been granted temporary protection on a group basis; Persons in a refugee-like situation refer to those outside their territory of origin who face protection risks similar to those of refugees, but who, for practical or other reasons, have not been formally recognized or issued documentation to that effect.
Every year, UNHCR publish its Population Statistics Reference. it includes detailed statistics from each country on Refugee Status Determination. The data set contains not only reference by country of asylum and country of origin but also:
- Type of procedure: RSD conducted by UNHCR (U), the Government (G), or Jointly (J) by UNHCR and the Government.
- Applications refer to “new” applications (N), “re-opened/repeat” applications (R) and/or “appeal” applications (A).
- Applications refer to number of persons (P) or number of cases (C). (Preference: PERSONS)
- Decisions refer to first instance (FI), appeal/administrative review (AR), judicial review (JR), New applications (NA), Repeat/reopened applications (RA), US Citizenship and Immigration Services (IN), US Executive Office of Immigration Review (EO), Subsidiary protection (SP), First instance and appeal (FA) and/or Temporary asylum (TA).
UNHCR ASR source of figures is IDMC, which estimation methodology can differ from other sources: https://www.unhcr.org/refugee-statistics/download/?url=E1ZxP
Stateless population refers to those individuals without a nationality in their country of habitual residence. Non-stateless population refers to those individuals without a nationality in their country of habitual residence and who are either internally or internationally displaced.
The population groups in this chart should not be summed up to calculate the total POCs figures as the stateless population group includes both non-displaced and displaced stateless.